Summary: L97
The Astrophysical Journal, 567:L97­L101, 2002 March 1
2002. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
PROMINENCE MAGNETIC DIPS IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL SHEARED ARCADES
G. Aulanier
Observatoire de Paris, Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France
C. R. DeVore
Naval Research Laboratory, Laboratory for Computational Physics and Fluid Dynamics, Code 6440, Washington, DC 20375
and
S. K. Antiochos
Naval Research Laboratory, Solar-Terrestrial Relationships Branch, Code 7675, Washington, DC 20375
Received 2001 October 10; accepted 2002 January 3; published 2002 February 8
ABSTRACT
We calculate the distribution of field-line dips in the three-dimensional sheared arcade model for prominence/
filament magnetic fields. We consider both moderately and highly sheared configurations computed by fully time-
dependent three-dimensional MHD simulations in which the field was relaxed to a static equilibrium end state.
In agreement with previous low spatial resolution measurements of the magnetic field inside prominences, we
find that for all configurations, the field in the great majority of the calculated dips exhibits inverse polarity. But
for each configuration we also find well-defined narrow regions with stable dips of normal polarity. These tend
to be located on the edges of the filament ends and at the top of the central part of the prominence. This distinctive